Author's Notes:

Here are some reviews I missed last chapter:

Cake Eater: Thanks! I love care bears So I had to add that in there.

Charismatic: Thank you for pointing those things out. But you have remember, Laura lived in LA and NYC before moving to Minnesota. So having a black belt in anything, is probably a good thing.

Star: I don't even know why I bother replying to you. But I s'pose it's because I have nothing better to do, and I've replied to everyone else. If you look at other stories, or even some movies, they say, and sometimes do, much worse things than the word "fuck". And the movies are rated PG-13. So if you have a problem with it, don't read the story.

Dana: Ok. Whatever you say.

Here are for this chapter (reviews from chapter 6)

Cake Eater: Thank you.

Maddy Nicola Snape: Thank you. I'm glad at least one person isn't offended by anything in my story.

NOoNeSpEcIaL00: Deal with it, ok? I don't hate cheerleaders! In fact, I am one. It wouldn't make much sense to be a cheerleader and hate them at the same time.

Hot stuff: Thanks.

Lala: I really don't know what to say to you. So please don't get mad, and think I hate you. I just don't know how to reply to what you said.

I hope no one gets mad because there isn't much of the Ducks in this chapter, but maybe some ppl will stop thinking Laura's a Mary Sue after reading this chapter.

And if I cam off mean in my replies, I didn't mean it. Honestly. So don't take it too personally.

Happy Halloween everyone! (I'm going to be a cat. You're never too old to go trick or treating!!)

The days passed by quickly and before anyone knew it, it was almost time for Thanksgiving vacation. I was getting out 2 days early so I could fly down to California, a place I hadn't been in 3 years, to visit my grandparents.

I heard a loud thud outside the door, and opened it. I started laughing as soon as I did.

Julie was on top of Portman, with her fist raised, ready to punch him. I thought of stopping it, but decided against it. It wasn't any of my business. And besides, Portman probably deserved it. He deserves a lot more than that from her, though.

My dad couldn't come with us to go see his parents, because he had to go to Maine, to fix something. We have a "Don't ask, don't tell" policy when it comes to his job, and my school problems. He lets me deal with my problems on my own. Which, to some people, may seem as a bad thing, but he says its to teach me that he isn't always going to be there for me. So, I guess it's ok.

So Dad was going to drop Kaylee and Caleb off here, and they'd stay in Dean Buckley's office, until I was done packing my bags, and my car.

"So, what'd he do this time?" I asked, when Julie walked in. I was under my bed trying to find my other clog. After 5 minutes, I gave up. It was no use.

"Huh? Oh, he was being a jerk. Like always." she said, plopping herself down on her bed.

"Ok. Well, I'm finished packing, so I'm going to go put this in the car, get the shrimps and go. I'll see you when I get back." I said.

Connie and Guy were on her bed, making out. They did that often. Well, after they have a fight, they make up, and end up making out on her bed. It's grossing me out. But I don't want to say anything. It's her room, too. In fact, it was hers before mine.

They both waved.

I grabbed my suitcase, bag, carry on bag, and walked to my car. I had to clean it a little first. The put everything in there, a total of 2 suitcases and 2 bags. I'm lucky. Nana and Papa have a car seat for Kaylee, so I don't have to bring that with, to LA.

"Ok, let's go." I said, walking into Dean Buckley's office. Riley and Cole were already there. Riley was holding Kaylee.

"This thing belong to you?' he asked.

"Some days, yes. Some days, no." I said, taking her from him.

"I want front seat!" Caleb yelled. We were outside at that time. I was trying to strap Kaylee into her car seat. She was making a big fuss. I looked up to the sky.

"What are you looking for?" he asked.

"Looking for flying cows, and if I have another head. Get into the back seat." I said.

He pouted, but got in.

It was 45 minute drive, and the airplane was 3 hours.

"I'm bored, Laura!" Caleb complained.

"Here" I said, handing him my geometry homework. Which, I must say, I'm getting an F in. "Do this, then."

"But I don't understand any of it." he whined.

"You have 2 choices, kid. Do my geometry homework, or be quiet and read a book." I replied.

"But I don't have a book."

I handed him one.

"I don't like this one."

"Go sit someplace else. You're bothering me."

He got up and sat with the people sitting in front of us.

"Does this child belong to you?" the boy from in front of me peered over his seat.

"Nope. Ever seen him before in my life." I replied, trying to get Kaylee to calm down. She's never been on a plane before.

"Laura kicked me out of my seat. She said I was bothering her." Caleb said.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I've never seen you before in my life. And when we get to LA, you explain to Nana and Papa why I'm not talking to you, Caleb."

"I told you she was my sister!" Caleb said, triumphantly.

"Hi. I'm Danny."

"Laura. Caleb, do me a favor and keep you mouth shut."

"You're not very nice." the girl next to Danny said.

"It wasn't in the job description." I replied.

Soon, the stewardess told everyone to return to their seats, that we'd be landing soon.

"Laura! Caleb!" I heard Nana yell when we got into the terminal.

"And this must be my great-granddaughter, Kaylee Jo." Papa said.

"I'm so glad you could come." Nana said, taking Kaylee from Papa.

"So are we, Nana." I smiled and hugged Papa.

When we got to their house, it was late, and Caleb and Kaylee had to go to bed. I gave Kaylee a bath, and tried to sing her to sleep, but it didn't work, so I ended up rocking her. Then went downstairs to talk to Nana.

"Hello, darling." she said, putting her book down.

"Hey, Nana." I smiled.

"I was so happy you guys could make it. I didn't think you'd want to come back after what happened with Lance and Matt…"she trailed off, after looking at my face.

"I don't want to talk about Matt, Nana. This week is for vacation. We're not going to dwell on the past." I said, abruptly.

"But everyone needs to talk about it. I was visiting his grave last week and some of your friends were there, putting flowers on his grave. They told me they do it every week. They're always asking about you, dear." she said.

"I don't want to talk about this, Grandmother!" I said.

I never call her that, she knows something's bothering me. Dammit. I knew I shouldn't have come back here.

"It wasn't your fault, Madeline! You need to stop blaming yourself for what happened."

"But it was my fault! Don't you get it? It was my fault. If I hadn't just stood there, he might still be alive today!"

"Stop saying that, Madeline Elizabeth! You couldn't do anything. If you had tried to stop Lance, then you'd be next to Matthew in the cemetery today! And Caleb wouldn't have any siblings at all!"

"Mom would still be with them, though."

"No, she wouldn't have. Your mother would have left whether Matt died or not."

"But Nana! She told me it was my fault that he died! And I believe her. No one was there to stop me from doing anything. I could have stopped Lance. Matt would still be alive today. I'd have a my best friend, and twin back! And Lance would be in jail, not running free."

"Stop saying that. First of all, your mother was a selfish wench. She didn't think of anyone but herself. She wasn't ready to have kids. That's why she left. When her oldest son died, she didn't know what to do. So she did the only thing she could. She blamed the person that was standing there, watching it. And that person just happened to be you. In her mind, it was, blame Madeline. She was there. She quit figure skating, and because of it, her brother was killed. It's all her fault. But it isn't. None of it was your fault."

"But I could have done something! It was only Lance, Matt and me. And Lance was drunk. We were by a swimming pool. It wasn't going to take much to overpower a drunk person. I could have saved him, Nana. Matt would still be here today. He would be upstairs, playing with Kaylee. And it's all my fault that he isn't. If I wasn't thinking of myself, and if I was going to survive, then Matt would be upstairs." I was crying so hard that I couldn't see straight anymore, at this point.

"Honey, there was nothing you could have done. Lance had a gun. And a drunk man with a gun is worse than a sober man with a gun. It's not your fault. You have to realize that." Nana kissed my cheek and walked away.

"But it was my fault. It really was." I mumbled.

We flew back a week later, and everything Nana had said that night kept going through my head. Maybe it wasn't my fault, but realizing that wasn't going to bring Matt back…